Machine for making cementitious articles



Apr. 24, 1923. 1,453,040 A. o. cRozlER MACHINE FOR MAKING` CEMENVIITIOUS ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

F'ileld May 22 1926 Apr. 24, 1923L 1,453,040 AA. o. cRozlER MACHINE FOR MAKING CEMENTITIOUS ARTICLES Filed May 22`I 1920 4 sheets-sheet 2 GOODS@ GOODS@ .297 ed 061165 l" butti.

Apr. 24,l 1923. 1,453,040

l A. o. cRozIl-:R

MACHINE FOR MAKING CEMENTITIOUS ARTICLES Filed May 22, 1920 4 sheets-sheet 209m. @5 J453 M 43k* l l @ll l L@ Apr. v24, 1923. 1,453,040

f A. o. cRozlER MACHINE FOR MAKING CEMENTITIOUSv ARTICLES FledMay 22, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 24, i923.

PATENT OFFICE.L

ALFRED OWEN CROZIER, 'OF NEW YORK, N. Y., .ASSIGNOR TO CROZIER-STRAB, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MACHINE FOR MAKING CEMENTITIOUS ARTICLES.

Application filed May 22, 1920. Serial No. 383,501.

To alt whom t lmay conce-m:

Be it known that I, ALFRED OWEN ORO- zIER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making Cementitious Articles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to the manufacture of cementitious or concrete articles, such as brick, tile, pipe, building blocks, etc. More particularly it relates to the manufacture of such articles by methods in which a shaped mass or body of concrete of rectangular, circular or other suitable cross section is formed and then cut up or subdivided into smaller articles. The body or mass of con crete from which such portions are severed can be conveniently produced by the socalled column method. In this method an upright hollow shaft or container is provided, of which at least the lower portion has the desired cross sectional size and contour. The shaft is filled with (preferably) wet concrete, up to such height that the weight of the superincumbent mass upon the lower portion will exert a marked compacting, or densifying,7 and unwatering effect on the lower portion, from which latter successive vsections are removed, the column in the shaft descending after such remo-val and being maintained at the proper height by the continuous or intermittent addition of fresh concrete of suitable consistency.

Heretofore my practise has been to use one or more knives to sever and cut up or divide the more or less compacted portion of thel column. A clean cut is thus produced, with the additional advantage that the Amovement of the knives has a trowellingf7 effec-t on the surfaces of the concrete articles, making said surfaces denser' and less porous. The knives, however, suffer considerablewear, and for certain purposesthesmooth, slick finish imparted by the knives is not desirable, as for example, on brick, tile, or other concrete articles upon which plaster or stucco or the like is to be applied. n

In a. copending applic-ation Serial No. 275,696, iiled February 8, 1919, I have described a cutter means for unset concrete, which includes a wire or wires, which' may be twisted or provided with roughening projections. The wires are preferably operated in a manner of a saw to sever the unset concrete and produce the desired rough surface.

The objects of the present invention reside in the provision of a machine for making hollow or solid concrete articles by thc so-called column method. In this machine the improved cutters described in my copending application are utilized for severing the article and for thereafter subdividing it. into a plurality of smaller articles. The advantages attendant upon the usefof these cutters are fully set forth in the appli cation above referred to.

Other objects of the .invention reside in the provision of certain operating mechanism for the various machine parts including the cutters, whereby the articles may be produced and delivered rapidly and at a minimum of laborand expense.

Other objects of the present invention will be set forth in more detail in the accompanying specification and shown in the drawings, in whichi Fig. l shows a front view of the machine with certain parts shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3.-3 of Fig. l. i

Fig. 4L is a top plan view of the machine and shows the operating cams and driving connections.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 3. f.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing thepd sition of the parts just afterthe withdrawal n of the supporting plate and with .the core about to descend.

Fig. 7 shows the position of the parts with the machine at rest.

Figs. S and 9 show details of the clutch construction.l

Fig. l0 is a section taken on line ldgll') of Fig. 2 and illustrates the cross cutting wires and operating mechanism and supporting plate structure.

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view takenou line 11-11 of Fig. l0.

Fig. l2 is a detail Sectional view taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 5. v

Fig. 13 shows a detail view of a` lnodilied form of cutter in which the supporting plate is used for the dual purpose of a cutter and support. v .n

Fig. 14 is a detail sectional -viewfof the parts shown in Fig. 13 taken on line 14-14.

In more detail, 10 represents the frame work of the machine. Suitably supported in thisframe is a hollow vertical container element 11 which is provided with a funnel shaped top to receive slushy or wet concrete. The concrete within the container is more or less compacted and unwatered by its own Weight and formed into an unset cementitious column here shown as having a rectangular cross section. vWithin the container are a number of core elements 12 supported by. a cross member 12a adapted to be sli'dably supported in yguides 13. The number of these cores and their shape may be varied depending upon the shape of the desired product. They may also be omitted if solid articles are desired. The cores are preferably fastened together and positioned in the container by members 14 best shown in Fig. 3.

Below the open lower end of the container and spaced slightly therefrom is a mold sec- Ytion 15 which is supported upon the frame of the machine. Closing the bottom of the mold section is a displaceable pallet 16.

Supported upon a frame 17 (Fig. 4) at the top of the machine is a shaft 18 carrying a belt pulley 19 receiving power by means of a belt from a power source such as a motor (not shown). Shaft 18 carries a pinion 20 which meshes with and drives a gear 21 rotatably mounted upon a shaft 22 which forms the lmain operating shaft of the machine (see Figs. 1 and 4). Gear 21 is shaped to form one element of a cone clutch (see Figs. 8 and 9). The other element 23 is splined on shaft 22 and is adapted to be engaged with the gear clutch element by means of a coil spring 24. This element is provided with a collar portion and a camming projection 25 is provided. A pawl lever 26 pinned on clutch control shaft 27 is adapted to engage this camming projection and `disengage the clutch and stop the rotation of shaft 22 (see Fig. 8). By drawing down on a control rod 28 the pawl lever will be swung clear of the ca'mming projection and permit the clutch to be engaged. The control rod is provided with a suitable handle grip at its lower end and if it is desired to rotate the machine operating shaft continuously the control rod may be held down by hooking the same over a pin (Fig. 1). Fig. 5 shows the machine at rest with the cores in raised position and with the unset cementitious column supported by a supporting plate 31. This plate is first withdrawn to permit the descent of the cementitious column into the mold section. This plate is carriedY by horizontal rods 32 which are slidable in the frame members of the machine. To retract theplate to the position showny in Figs. 10 and "6 the main shaft is provided with a cam 33, llllith the machine at rest the cam follower on lever 34 is upon the point of cam 33 and descends upon the initial rotation of said cam after the clutch is engaged. Lever 34 has connected thereto a link connecting with a rack 35 slidably mounted in fixed guide 3G (Figs. 5 and 10). Rack 35 upon its descent rotates a pinion 37 fixed to shaft carrying other pinions 38 which mesh with rack teeth on rods 32 thereby retracting the rods 32 and withdrawing the supporting plate 31 from 'below the lower end of the container. These same parts are used for severing the completed articles upon their restoration to position, as will hereinafter be explained.

The column of cement-itious material is now ready to descend into the mold section. The cores are arranged to descend preferably concurrently with the descent of the cementitious-column by the following mechanism. Straps 4() are attached to the core supporting member 12a. The straps straddle the shaft 22 and are provided with cam followers which cooperate with lifting and lowering cams 41. The cores descend by gravity as soon as the high point of these cams pass beyond the followers and come to rest upon the pallet 16 (see Fig. Fig. 6 shows the cores just prior to their descent.

The descent of the cementitious column into the mold section aids to further compact and unwater the concrete and the outer edge of the supporting plate 31. The mold section 15 is slightly spaced from the end of the container 11 to permit the wir@ to enter and sever the article. The wire may be. any one of a multiplicity of forms, such as are shown and described in my copending application Serial No. 275,696. To impart a slight movement of reciprocation to the wire and give a saw-like action thereto in severing the protruding sectioInI provide the construction shown in Figs, 10 and 11. 43 is a wire holder fastened to rods 32. .44 are fixed cams carried by the machine frame and cooperating with rollers 45 suitably mounted in the wire holder frame and havi ng suitable fastening blocks 46 for the wires.

articles l 'pro-vide cutter means which. inthe present embodiment arranged to effect the cutting or dividing during the ascending movement of the cores. This cutter means will now be described.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 5, 4:9 designates a frame work which is mounted to slide'up and down relatively to the frame work 10.

This frame is connected to the core cross and thereby imparts a rotational movement to the shafts during the elevation of the frame work. Each shaft 50 carries an eccentric 54 which cooperates with a loop shaped follower 55 (see Figs. 5 and 12). The follower is slotted to permit lateral displacement with respect to the shaft and the cutters 56 and 57 are secured to the follower by studs 58. The cutter wires are preferably fastened to the ends of the studs by nuts 59 and an adjustment 60 is provided for securing the proper tension upon the cutter wires. The cutter wires extend directly across the mold section atright angles to each as shown in Fig. 5, and to permit the elevation and descent of the cutters the mold section is slotted as shown at 61. The arrangement just described is adapted to impart a back and forth saw-like movement to th@J cutters 56 and 57 during the elevation of the cutter frame and thereby subdivide the larger article `into a number of smaller articles of less dimensions. The cutters may be of braided wire or of other forms fully set forth in my copending application Serial No. 275,696. The cutters 56 and 57 as well as cutter 4t2 may be used for giving a rough uneven surface to the article. This surface is particularly desired in certain products and its advantages are fully set forth in my copending application.

In the embodiment shown the dividing cutters are merely shown diagrammatically. However, these cutters may be of the braided wire or twisted type as shown for thesevering cutter in Fig. 11. In fact. any of the cutters may be of any one rof the forms shown in my copending application heretofore mentioned. and these cutters will have the specific advantages therein set forth. The cutters are adapted to readily out the material and leave an open slot between the severed products. They may also impart a desired rough surface to the article. l

In Figs. 13 and 14 is shown a modified form of cutter in which the supporting plate 31 is adapted to effect the severing of the cementitious column. The plate may be pro vided with saw teeth or a roughened edge as shown at 90 or a straight edge may be provided as shown at 91. The plate isv adapted to be longitudinally reciprocated as it is advanced by the cams 44 and for this purpose the plate is slidably supported in brackets 92 carried by the rods 32.

After the article in the. mold section has been severed from the column and subdivided and the plate 31 restored to position to support the column of cementitious material in the container, the completed articles should be removed from the mold section prior to the next descent of the cementitious column. Thereafter a. new pallet should be brought into position under the end of the vmolol section.r These operations are carried out by the mechanism which will now be described. If desired, a plural- ,ity of removable mold sections maybe used.

The pallets are advanced under the mold section and the loaded pallets removed by means of a pair of conveyor chains 62 having-suitable pallet spacing fingers 63. .The chains are intermittently advanced by means of the ratchet and gearing shown at `64e. To actuate the ratchet a connecting rod 65 co-nnects the ratchet arms with the end of lever 66 p-ivoted upon ay shaft 67 (see` Fig. 3). Lever 66 is provided with a cam follower 68 cooperating with a cam 69 xed upon shaft 22. This mechanism effects the advance of the conveyor at the proper time to remove the loaded pallet and to bring a new pallet into position below the mold section.

In order to lift the pallets from the conveyor into position below the mold section and thereafter return the same to the conveyor, I provide cams 70 on the main shaft. These cams at suitabletimes are adapted to allow follower levers 71 to be lowered or raised thereby elevating or loweringy pitmen 72. These pitmen at their lower ends slide through swivel blocks 7 3 carried by crank levers 74. These crank levers are pivoted upon brackets 75 and at their upper ends connect with links 76 which in turn connect with a platform frame 77 which is adapted to support the pallet 16. The platform frame is vertically guided by guide rods 78 (see Fig. 1). Beyond the blocks 7 3 the pitmen are provided with an additional block 79 and between the blocks are coil springs 80.

The operation of the parts will'be best understood by considering a pallet upon the conveyor and afterwards raised into cooperation with the lower end of the mold section and thereafter lowered. With the pallet on the conveyor the pitmen are elevated by their cams and swing the parts from dotted to full line position (Fig. 1)l thereby elevating an empty pallet into a position under the lower end of the mold section. It is now necessary to lock the pallet supporting frame into position so as to withstand the shock of the descending cores and cementitious column. This is effected by means yof locking pins 8l. These pins are normally lspgrirn'g retracted from,lockingposition in the trame 77 by means of springs 82'and are adapted to be projected forward into locking position by levers 83 pivoted at 84 and y having cumming surfaces adapted to be engaged by rollers 85 carried by blocks 79.

The locking action occurs atter the pallet platform is in upper 'position and the interposed coil springs 80 permit the 'pit'mento vmove upwardly in excess ot the point necessary to bring the palletinto contact with the mold section. lllhen the pitmen descend, the first movement thereof extends the coil springs 80. Thereafter the pins 8l Iare projected outwardly to unlock the pallet :trame y and Vthereafter the further downward movei'nent ofthe pitmen 'lowers the pallet carrying the completed article on the conveyor chain. The chain is then advanced to bring a new pallet linto cooperative po-sition vandthe cycle of operation is repeated.

Certain features of the 'present invention directed broadly to the severing of the unset-column by any means, whether `by knives `or 'saw-like cutters, yare claimedbroadly in my Patent No. 1,358,419. ln the `present ap -plication claim the machine in combinaunset cementitious column relatively to its container, means operated by the `machine for thereafter severing the lower Aend ot the unset column, said severing means comprising cut-ting wires operating in the manner of a saw. i y

3. ln a machine Jfor making cementitious articlesby the column method :trom an intermittently descending unset cementitious column, comprising means operated by the Voperation of the machine for lowering thel unset cementitious column relatively yto its container, means operated by the machine for thereafter severing thelowere'nd ot the unset column, said severing meanscomprising cutting wires operatingin the "manner-ot a saw, and cutter means operating inthe manner of a saw for `thereafter subdividing the severed cementitious article into a pluralityof smaller articles.

et. Ina machine 'torthepurpose described, in combination, 'a support for a concrete article, one or more subdividing cutters composed of twisted wires arranged above the support, and means for raising said cutters through the unset concrete article carried by the support to thereby subdivide the article carried thereby into a plurality of smaller articles.

5. In a machine for the purpose described, in combination, a support Jfor a concrete article, one or more subdividing cutters composed of twisted wires arranged above the support, means for raising said vcutters through lthe unset concrete article carried by the support to thereby subdivide the article carried thereby into a `plurality of smaller articles, and means for imparting a back and forth longitudinal saw like movement to said cutters.

I 6. ln a vmachine tor the purpose described, comprising a support tor avconcrete article, means for intermittently lowering unset concrete articles thereon, one or more subdividing cutters arranged labove said suplport and below the concrete 'article thereon, and power actuated means tor raising said cutter means through the article and for concurrently reciprocaating the said cutters to thereby subdivide the article into a plurality of smaller articles.

7. In a `machine of the class described, in combination, a container for a mass ot concrete, afmold section 'below the same, means for intermittently bringing an article supporting lpallet vbelow the vmold section and for thereafter removing said pallet and replacing the same with a new pallet, means 'tor intermittently causing the unset cementitious column to descend into the mold section and upon said pallet, and means comprising a saw like cutter for periodically severing the `portion ott the column in the mold section trom the superimposed portions of the column.

8. In a machine of the' class described, in combination, a container' for a mass of concrete,"a mold section below the same, means tor intermittently bringing an article supporting pallet below the mold section and for thereafter removing said pallet and replacing the same with a new pallet, means :adapted toperiodically support said, vcementitious column, means for removing the articles from the mold section, and means for actuating said wire like cutter, said plate and said removing means in proper order.

10. In a machine for the manufacture of cementitious prolducts, in combination, an upright container for an unset cementitious column, a mold section below the same, a plate for periodically supporting the column above the mold section and upon displacement allozwing the column to descend into and be retained within said section, core means for descending into and being, adapted to be withdrawn from said mold section to thereby form hollow spaces in material therein, a wire like severing cutter adapted to be advanced through the unset cementitious coxlumn to sever the material in the mold section from the superimposed cementitious column, means for imparting a reciprocating movement to said wires during said advance, wire like subdividing cutter means adapted to be advanced through the article within the mold section to subdivide the same intoi a plurality of smaller articles, means for reciprocating said last mentioned cutter means, means for removing` the completed articles and means for operating said cutters, said supporting plate, and removing means in proper order.

1l. In a machine for making` cementitious articles from an intermittently descending unset cementitious column formed in a conin combination, a power driven shaft, a

supporting plate for the unset cementitious column, means driven byl said shaft for shifting said'plate, a cutter means of the wire type adapted to be advanced through the unset column for severing the same, said cutter means being' operated by said shaft in timed relation to the descent of the column.

13. In a machine for making cementitious articles by the collumn method from an 'intermittently descending unset cementitious column comprising power actuated means operating to permit the unset cementitious column to descend upon a pallet, cutter means operating in the manner of a saw to sever the lower end of the column and means associated therewith for thereafter supporting the superimposed severed unset column,

I'n testimony whereof I hereto afliX my signature.

ALFRED OWEN CROZIER. 

